Friday, March 19, 2010

The Democratic Caucus: What To Do?

Either one of the flies on the wall of the Democratic caucus is “deep throat” or the caucus is cautiously leaking information so as to test the viability of its proposals among voters who this year are in a throw-the-bums-out mood, probably the latter.

The Democratic caucus is that institution in Connecticut that, in the absence of a strong Republican governor, is the real author of the state’s unbalanced budgets.

“In a closed-door meeting,” CTMirror reports, “the 114-member caucus came down strongly against any deep cuts in spending, particularly those aimed at social services and health care, caucus leaders said. But with the exception of an estate tax hike worth about $70 million annually, House Democrats were equally reluctant to sign onto further tax increases.

"’I don't think the stomach is there for taxes,’ one caucus member said privately. But the stomach isn't there for cuts, either, the member said. ‘We're stuck.’

"’I think people realize we need to do something,’ said Rep. Christopher L. Caruso, D-Bridgeport. ‘But what that something is, I don't know.’"